11 Ways to Conquer Men’s Anxiety

Men’s Anxiety On Our Plate

What’s good for the goose is good for the gander?  –very old saying. Two men offer old but fresh ways to relieve anxiety and stress. I’ve combined their viewpoints into one list. Most women would not allow viral-izing photos like the one above, yet it aptly captures the needs of men as a species.

1. FOOD. Don’t conquer food, just love it. The enthusiastic approach of Starex Smith (above), defeats anxiety with a bite. He hunts down the best restaurants in the U.S. as the hungry Black man, and writes home about it on his blog.  His “food, culture and happiness” adventure includes some healthy eating tips. He says eat what you want, be happy and support under-sung Black-owned eateries at the same time.
2. FRIENDS. This is first on the list of Ben Foley, a fierce believer in all humans. Be ruthless about relationships, he says, and drop those that don’t work. He quotes many folks including Confucius: “He who chases two rabbits, catches none.”  Foley conquered stress and overwhelm and victoriously claimed above-the-line health. His list comprises items 2 – 11 here.
3. ALCOHOL He suggests weight loss is a benefit when men stop drinking.
4. NEWS Truly no news is good news, because you’ll hear about it anyway.
5. SCARCITY MINDSET Disbelief and lack of appreciation will get you every time. 
6. SOCIAL MEDIA Yes, you can do without it.
7. SINGLE PURSUIT OF MONEY “If you say that money is the most important thing, you’ll spend your life completely wasting your time …” — Alan Watts. It’s the free things that really count.
8. TELEVISION He threw his out and read 50 books over 18 months.
9. WHAT OTHERS THOUGHT OF ME Drop reactive thought patterns.
10. SELF-LABELING Whatever you believe about yourself is true. Stop broadcasting the negative and declare the positive instead. (Could this be harder for men?)  
11. 80% OF MY THINGS Since Foley was moving to New York, ditching his stuff became easy. He now he swears by living lean. 

Read his full recount here and maybe sign-up for his free 21-day mindfulness challenge. Warning: strong language!

For the record, in my world, men’s anxiety should be an oxymoron. What do you think? Let me know in your comments below.

–Rev. Niamo Nancy Muid